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The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A North Carolina planter complains that government officers and lawyers have ruined farmers through malpractices and extortionate legal fees. He provides an example from the case of William Few, where court costs of over £60 exceeded a £10 debt recovered.
Merged-components note: Tables provide the breakdown of costs described in the letter to the printer.
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Sir,
Several Hundred of the industrious Farmers and Planters of North
Carolina, some of whom were in good Circumstances, have been
entirely ruined by the Malpractices of the publick Officers of Government,
and the Extortion of those Vultures the Lawyers, who have for Years,
with Impunity, been gorging on the Vitals of that unfortunate Country,
I beg you will insert the following Sketch of the Bills of Costs in one of
the Courts there, as a Specimen of the Injustice of their Law Proceedings.
A PLANTER.
William Few had six Actions for trifling Differences and Debts. one of
which was discontinued; the Bill of Cost was,
Second Verdict, for L. 1 19 s 8 d
Debt and Cost,
Third Verdict, for
Do. and Do.
Fourth Verdict, for
13 s
Do, and Do.
Fifth Verdict, for
1 l 2 s
Do, and Do.
Sixth Verdict, for
0 l , Cost,
71 l 8 s 4 d
10 l 15 s 6 d
So that, in recovering ten Pounds Fifteen Shillings, the Costs are Sixty
Pounds thirteen Shillings and fourpence.
| £. | 8 | 13 | 0 |
| 9 | 18 | 1 | |
| 21 | 1 | 0 | |
| 7 | 5 | 4 | |
| 11 | 4 | 6 | |
| 13 | 6 | 5 |
| 0 | 51 | 01 | .7 |
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Planter.
Recipient
To The Printer. Sir,
Main Argument
public officers and lawyers in north carolina have ruined farmers through malpractices and extortion, as shown by excessive court costs in small debt cases that far exceed the debts recovered.
Notable Details